the Kingdom of Italy, be prolonged sine die, notwithstanding the dispositions of the Law of July, 1904. I am happy to be able to give you the desired assurance to this effect and to inform you at the same time that the necessary instructions in this sense have already been despatched to the proper maritime and customs authorities. I have, &c., G. FUSINATO. (2)-The British Chargé d'Affaires at Rome to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy. M. LE SOUS SECRÉTAIRE D'ÉTAT, British Embassy, Rome, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge with my best thanks the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 18th instant, assuring me that the status quo under which the British flag is admitted to the privileges of the coasting trade in Italy will be prolonged ine die, notwithstanding the dispositions of the Law passed in July last, which reserves this privilege, in the absence of special Conventions with other Powers, to the Italian flag, and at the same time informing me that the necessary instructions in this sense have been given to the maritime and customs authorities. I shall await a further communication from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs when the time arrives at which the Italian Government shall judge it opportune to proceed to the signature of the Convention which has been agreed upon. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration, I have, &c., RENNELL RODD. NOTES EXCHANGED between the British and Italian Governments respecting the Italian Agreement of 1905* with Seyid Mahamed-bin-Abdulla.-London, March 19, 1907. (1)-Sir Edward Grey to Count de Bosdari. Foreign Office, March 19, 1907. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a Memorandum, recording the supplementary and explanatory Agreement which has leen arrived at between the British and Italian Governments, in order to elucidate certain points in the Agreement of the 5th * Page 547. March, 1905, between the Italian Government and Seyid Mahamed-bin-Abdulla. I should be glad if you would address to me a note, enclosing a Memorandum drawn up in identical terms. I have, &c., E. GREY. Inclosure. Ir is to be understood that where the word " tribes " is used in the Agreement of the 5th March to describe the followers of the Seyid Sheikh Mahamed-bin-Abdulla, this word is intended to denote only any individuals belonging to the Somali tribes who, for the time being, are with the Mullah, and that therefore the word "tribes" must be considered to denote merely followers. 2. With reference to the clause in Art. 1 of the Agreement of the 5th March relating to the relations between the Government of Abyssinia and its dependents on the one hand, and the Dervishes on the other hand, and in order to avoid any misunderstanding which may arise in translating the original Arabic version of the Agreement of the 5th March, it is to be understood that neither the British nor the Italian Government accepts any responsibility for the relations between the Dervishes and the Abyssinian Government or their dependents. The responsibility of the Italian and British Governments remains limited to the tribes and people over whom they claim control. 3. With reference to the 3rd clause of Art. 1, it is to be understood that when the interests of British tribes are concerned, differences between the Seyid's people and the British tribes will be referred to local Representatives of both the Italian and the British Governments, and in the event of these Representatives being unable to arrive at a satisfactory agreement, the matters in dispute will be referred to their respective Governments. It is further agreed that, except on non-contentious matters, such as the interchange of friendly communications and other matters where, in order to avoid undesirable delay, direct communication is considered necessary, all communications between the British authorities of the Somaliland Protectorate and the Mullah Seyid Mahamed Abdulla, and vice versa, shall pass through the Italian authorities at Aden. Copies of all correspondence exchanged direct in the exceptional cases above mentioned shall be forwarded immediately to the italian authorities at Aden. 4. With reference to the clause in Art. 4, which defines the limits of pasturage granted by the British Government to the * Page 547. Dervishes, the pasture of Baran shall be included, between Tifafle and Damot; and, moreover, provided it is found by subsequent local inquiry that there are no obstacles to the following alteration being made, the line defining the limits of pasturage accorded to the Dervishes may be extended into the Italian territory so as to reach the pools of Kurmis. This arrangement is made in order to obviate direct contact between the Dervishes and the British tribes, the zone between this line and Bohotle being considered as neutral. Taking the above modifications into consideration, the line of pasturage up to which the Dervishes may graze from the south shall be amended to read as follows: From Halin to Hodin, Hodin to Tifafle, Tifafle to Baran, Baran to Damot, Damot to Kurmis. Anglo-Italian Understanding as regards Customs Dues on Somali Coast. 5. It is recognized that on the Somali Coast there shall be a cordial common understanding between the British and Italian Protectorates, with regard to customs dues and a general control of the coast line, and that whenever either of the above Governments may find it necessary to impose provisional measures of punitive restriction on the commerce of any of their tribes, the other Government shall also, on being requested to do so, and for good cause shown, adopt similar restrictions against the defaulting tribe. As regards customs dues, it is, however, recognized that, as direct Italian administration does not as yet exist on the Mijjertein Coast, the Italian Government is at liberty, subject to the provisions of any general Treaties which may have already received the assent of both Governments, to impose customs dues whenever and in such a manner as it may consider fit, but it will remain understood that so far as present customs arrangements between the two Administrations on the Somali Coast are concerned, the arrangements will be that, whenever there is a difference between the local customs dues of the two Administrations, the less favoured tribes will be obliged to pay to the Administration through whose territory those tribes elect to trade the same dues which they would have had to pay had they elected to trade through the territory of their own Government. The above conditions are intended to prevent evasion of customs dues and supervisions. Position of Bender Ziadeh.* 6. A complication having recently arisen in regard to the geographical position of Bender Ziadeh, and whereas this town was *See Art. II of Agreement with France of the 2nd (M 663) February, 1888, page 494. 2 N formerly determined to be to the eastward of the 49° meridian (Greenwich), and therefore in the Italian Protectorate, but has now been shown by astronomical observations to be on the west of the above meridian, and therefore within the British sphere, it is agreed by the British Government that this alteration in the location of the 49° meridian shall in no way affect the arrangements formerly agreed upon as to Bender Ziadeh. Compensation to the Italian Mijjertein Tribes. 7. It being admitted by the British Government that it is possible that the passage of the British troops and their dependents or auxiliaries close to the pastures of the Italian Mijjertein tribes may have had the effect of disorganising the arrangements for pasturing the flocks, and that, in consequence, the Mijjertein may possibly have suffered a portion at least of the losses which they represent they have suffered as a result of the operations, and having in view the desire of the British Government that no cause for dissatisfaction shall remain to disturb the future peaceful relations of the Italian tribes, and those under British control, the British Government agrees to place at the disposal of the Italian Government a sum of 4,000l. in satisfaction of all past claims against British expeditions, whether arising in relation to the operations of the last British expedition or any previous British expeditions. Foreign Office, 20th February, 1907. (2) Count de Bosdari to Sir Edward Grey. (Translation.) YOUR EXCELLENCY, Italian Embassy, London, March 19, 1907. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of to-day's date, enclosing a Memorandum containing the supplementary and explanatory Agreement concluded between the British and Italian Governments for the purpose of elucidating certain points in the Agreement of the 5th March, 1905, between the Italian Government and Seyid Mahamed-bin-Abdulla. By order of my Government I transmit herewith a Memorandum drawn up in identical terms* and have, &c., A. DE BOSDARI. See Inclosure in No. 1, page 544. AGREEMENT of Peace and Protection between the Italian Government and Sheikh Mohammed-ben-Abdullah (Mullah). -Signed at Illig, March 5, 1905.* (Translation from the Arabic.) PRAISE to the Merciful God! In accordance with the common desire of the Contracting Parties to afford peace and tranquility to all Somalis, Cavaliere Pestalozza, the special Envoy acting under the authority of the Italian Government, and Saïd Mohammed-ben-Abdullah, acting for himself and for the Chiefs and Notables of the tribes following him, have agreed on the complete acceptance of the following clauses and conditions : 1. There shall be peace and lasting accord between the abovementioned Saïd Mohammed, with all the Dervishes dependent on him, and the Government of Italy and all its dependents among the Somali Mijjerteins and others. In view of this and in relation thereto there shall also be peace and accord between Saïd Mohammed, with his above-mentioned Dervishes, and the British Government, with all its dependents among the Somalis and others. So, likewise, shall there be peace between the Saïd, with his above-mentioned Dervishes, and the Government of Abyssinia, with all its dependents. The Italian Government guarantee and pledge themselves on behalf of their dependents, as also on behalf of the British Government. Every disagreement or difference between the Saïd and his people and the dependents of the Italian Government, or those for whom the Government have pledged themselves-as, for example, the English and their dependents-shall be settled in a peaceful and friendly manner by means of "erko" or of Envoys from the two parties under the Presidency of an Italian Delegate, and also in the presence of an English Envoy whenever British interests are concerned. 2. Said Mohammed-ben-Abdullah is authorized by the Italian Government to establish for himself and his people a fixed residence at the point most convenient for communication with the sea, between Ras Garad and Ras Gabbe. This also with the approval of Yusuf Ali† and of Sultan Osman Mahmud.‡ That residence and all its inhabitants shall be under the protection of the Italian Government and under their flag. If and when the Italian Government so desire, they shall be at liberty to instal in that residence a Representative of Italian An Agreement, elucidating certain points in this Agreement, was arrived at between the British and Italian Governments and recorded in an Exchange of Notes which took place in London on the 19th March, 1907. page 543. + Sultan of Obbia. (M 663) Sultan of the Migertini. See |